Friction-clutch.



No 868,639. r PATENTED AUGnZO, 190v.

' N. M. POWELL FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION 1mm) DEU.22. 1

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IRMA woo co I 311 03 I 1' F06 W 7 13/ I y I 1 Q'QIJIM dHoznc xg I y a 810. 863,639. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907 N. M. POWELL. FRICTION OLIFTGH.

APP LIOATION FILED DEG-22.1906.

2 SHYEETS-SHEET 2.

QXN-hwoeco 'wc 1 1 [at the following is aspecification, 1

gradually that no shock or jar will result in starting the load from rest to full speed, such for example as start- I the coil spring and the drum, a member or plurality of members, which serve as the wearing parts or renewv with the drum. Fig. 5, is a cross sectional view on form of a coil and is drawn tightly to the drum to con-' a clutch which may be attached to the part td'be driven in place and by means of which the rotation of5the 7 motor may be reversed and the load still driven by the .means used to operate the same.

UNITED STATES ATENT NICHOLAS n. rownLL, 0F Nam-YORK, ASSIGNOR on ONE-HALF 'ro LEWIS e. YOUNG,

' NEW YORK, N. Y.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Auggo 1907.

To all whom it may concem:

Be itknown that I, NICHOLAS M. -=PownLL,-a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at N o. 1712 Fulton street, 7 city of New York, in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, New York, have inyented certain Iiew and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches, of which The present invention relates to friction clutches and particularly to that type in, which a drum cooper. ates with a spring which surrounds the same in the nest the driving part with the driven part.

The object of the invention is to provide a clutch of this character which will be simple in its parts and in new parts at a very small expense, and alsoto provide by means of the frictional surfaces of the clutch en gaging gradually to drive the load while the driving means, such as a gas engine, isrunning at full speed,, and to connect the driving means to the driven part so ing a vehicle from a position of rest to full speed without jarring or excessive vibration. v I I My invention consists primarily in placing between able parts, and also in providing amodification in which the coil spring is dispensed with and other clamping means are used to hold the wearing members clutch, whereas with the coil spring, this advantage cannot be attained. 7

Referring to the drawings which form part of this specification, Figure 1, is a loan gitudinal sectional view with parts shown in elevation, of the clutch and the Fig. 2, is across sectional view of Fig. 1, on line XX thereof. Fig. 3, is a side view of one of the sections and a part of two other sections, shown in this case as partof a ring triangular in cross section. Fig. 4, is a View, partly in section, of the modified form showing the rings as rectangular in cross section and illustrating the clamping means used to force the ring sections in engagement line 22 of Fig. 4.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide means whereby the parts in frictional contact maybe liberally supplied with oil, so that excessive wear be avoided and also to insure the smooth workingoi the clutch.

Referring to the clutch as constructed and shown in Figv 1, 2 and 3, 10 indicates thedriving shaft, which we will assume in this case to be the motor shaft, and

11 indicates the driven shaft which we will assume to be connected to therdriven gear of an automobile.

12 indicates the drum ring and l2{ the core piece thereof which is connected thereto in the present case by a screw thread 13, but which may be connected in any desirable manner, and after the parts are screwed together they are keyed to prevent their separation in a manner well known to the art.

Formed integral with the core piece 12 is a shaft extension l4which is provided with a recess 15-atone end, into which one end of the shaft 10 projects, and

serves as a bearing therefor. which the wearing parts maybe easily replaced by "Mounted on the shaft 10 is a casing 16 which is secured to the shaft a key 17 as shown, and connected to the casing 16 is a coil spring 18 connected to the cas- "'ing by an angular projectionll) at one end, and to the crank-pin 2 0 at its opposite end, the coils of the spring '18- inclosing and bearing on the ring sections 21-22 etc., and by tightening said coil, serving to press said' 'sectionsi tightly against the drum 12 to frictionally engage the same, as will be readily understood.

Incrder to provide a large friction surface between the drum 12 and the ring-sections 2l-22 etc., the inner faces of the sections are beveled and the drum is correspondingly provided with grooves having beveled or inclined sides 2324 etc. which serve to increase the area of contact between. the drum and the ring sections, as will be readily understood.

Connected to the casing 16 is a flange'25 provided with an opening 26, and located in the upper part of said flange is a bearing 27 in which is located the shaft 28 which is formed integral with the crank-pin 20, and connected to said shaft is a lever 29 having a roller 30 at one end adapted to cooperate with a cam 31 mounted on the shaft extension 14, and held in relative position thereon by a feather or key 32, which is sunk into the shaft extension and engages with a key-way 33 formed in the bore of the cam 31, thereby permitting the cam 31 to reciprocate relative to the shaft extension 14.

' Connected to the 'cam 31 and formed integral with same is,a sleeve 31 provided at its rear end with an enlargement having a groove therein, and located in said groove is a loose fitting ring serving as one end of a lever 34 which is pivoted at 35 to some suitable part, and the upper end 36 serves to operate the same by foot pressure which serves to force the cam against the pressure exerted by the'spring 37, and away from and out of engagement with the lever 29, thus disengaging the friction surfaces of the clutch members, as will be easily understood.

Located in the sleeve of the cam is an opening 88 which is in line with an opening in theishaft 14 which is drilled into said shaft and extends to the end of the shaft .10 in which is formed a passage which. leads to an opening within the core piece 123 and serves to introduce oil into said core piece through radial grooves 41:42 etc, which grooves intersect drilled passages 43-44 etc., which communicate with. passages i5 iti etc., which lead to the faces of the rin sections there- 'by carrying the oil through said passages to the said sections by centrifugal action and serving to keep them in proper working condition.

It will tims be seen that the spring 37 keeps the cam normally in engagement with the lever 29 and thereby holds the spring coil under tension and the clutch in engagement, and that by forcing the cam 31 out: of engagement with the lever, the spring coil is relaxed and the clutch surfaces disengaged.

Referring to Fig. 4, and 5, 47 indicates the driving shaft and 48 a casing connected thereto in the same manner as that described in Fig. l, and is provided with a flange which supports a lever 50 and crankshaft Si in the same manner as before described, but in this case thereis provided a double throw crank at each side of the clamps 5353 at the top side thereof indi at ed by 54-55 and 56-57 and formed on a shaft 58 which serves to support and hold them in proper alinoment respectively. The clamping members 52- 53, are hinged at their lower ends to a shall. 59 the ends of which are snpportedin recesses in the casing and flange respect ively as shown.

'lbe ring: members iii) are rectangular in cross section instead of triangular, and the clamping members press the ring members into engagement through the instrumentality of the lever which acts to throw the adjacent crank-pins in opposite directions and-thereby tighten the clamps onto the ring sections, as will be easily understood by those skilled in the art of mechanics.

ihe oil passages are formed in substantially the same manner as previously set. forth in the dcscrip tion of the construction of Fig. i, and the operation is practically the same as previously dcscribcd, except that this construction permits illO l'illlt'il to remain in engagement regardless of the dircctionof rotation of the driving shaft, wht as the rev e rota tion of the driving shaft in Fig. l, loosen thc coil spring on the section members. The section members may be made of soft metal or hard wood or lcathcr, or; in fact of any suitable material that will \\'car wcii in practice and arc held in posivouid serve to that by the clamps or spring as the case may be, so

tliat'thoy may be quickly removed and rcpiaccd by new ones in casc of wear.

The parts arcv so simple that further dcscription thereof is doc-med unnecessary.

vin operation, assuming' the motor to be running at full speed-and thc -.t.u|omobiic at. rest due to thc operin the scope of my invention.

seems the vehicle will gradually start and increase in speed without shock or jar, as has been demonstrated in actual practice with the construction shown inl ig. 'l.

The form and number of the sections may be chat'iged and they may be divided into more or less length of section as the service may require without departing from the invention, and I therefore do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction shown herein, but reserve to myself all forms that come fairly with- Having thus described my invention what I claim as no and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. A clutch comprisinga casing. a drum in said casing provided with a shaft. which extends beyond one end thereof, a friction member constructed to iii the outer periphcry of said drum. a clamping member thc end of which is opcrativciy connected to said casing, said friction member bcin; free to slide relative to said drum and clamping member, and means for tightening said clamping member on said friction member and thereby fort-inc said friction member forcibly in contact with said drum.

A clutch comprising a casing, a drum in said casing provided with a shaft which extends beyond the end there- .ot'. the outer surface of said drum serving: is a friction surface, a plurality of friction membersconstructed to lit said drum and adapted for frictional engaacnicnt therewith, clamping means connected to said casing and serv in; to hold said fr tion members in operative position on said drum. said friction members being free to slide relative to said drum and clamping: member. and means for forcing said ciampin means on said friction members.

23. A clutch comprising; a casing. a cylindrical drmn in said casing provided with a shaft which extends beyond one end thereof. a plurality of friction members comprising sections of a ring constructed to conform to the outer surface of said drum. said friction members beiiu. free to slide relative to said drum and clamping member. clampinc, means connected to said cash amt means for forcing said clamping: means against said friction members to hold the, same in frictional e casement with said drum.

4. A clutch comprising a casing. a cylindrical drum in said casing provided with a shaft which extends beyond one end thereof, and having aplnrnlity of grooves in it's otlitl' surface. a pinrality of ring segments located in said grooves clamping, means connected to said c. inn, said ring segments being free to slide relative to said drum and said clamping means. and=means for forcing s id clamping. means against said ring segments to cause fric tional engagement between said segments and said drum.

7-. clutch comprising a casing, a drtun in said casing provided with a shaft which extends beyond one end thereof. a friction member constructed to fit the outer periphery of said drum, a clamping member the ends of which are operatively connected to said casing. said friction member adapted to siidc relative to said drum and clamping member. means for tialitoning said clamping member on said friction member and thereby forcing said friction member in 'contact with said drum, said means comprising a lever nnected to a crank which in turn is connected to said clatupiin; member, and a cam constructed to operate said i\\'1l' I ll. clutch comprising a casing, a cylindrical drum in said casin: provided with a shaft. which extends beyond one end thereof, said drum having, a plurality of grooves in its surface. a plurality of ring; segments located in said clamping means connected to said casing, said ring segments being movable circumfereutially relative to drum and clamping: means, means for forcing said against said ring scgmcnts to cause fricnid segments and said drum,

ik connected to said ciampiut 7 said. friction members.

to conform to the outer surface of said drum, clamping means connected to said casing, said ring being movable circumferentially relative to said drum and clamping means and means for forcing said clamping means against saidfrictional members to hold some in engagement with said drum, said drum and shaft extension having passages adapted to convey oil to the inner faces of' 8. A clutch comprising a casing, a cylindrical drum in said casing provided with a shaft extension, a friction section conforming to'the drum periphery, a spiral spring,- emb'racing said drum and friction section and having one end connected to the casing, said friction section being movable circnmferentially relative to said drum and spring, and means connected to the other end of the spring for contracting or relaxing the same; the drum: shaft and drum containing passages leading to the friction member for lubricating the same under contrifugal action. 9. A clutch comprising a. casing, a drum in said casing, a friction member constrncted to fit the outerperiphery of said drum, a'cla'mping member one end of which is operatively connected tosaid casing, said friction member-being free to slide relative to said drum and clamping mom-1 her and means for tightening said clamping member on said friction member and thereby forcing said fri ctign member forcibly in contact withsaid dru 7 10. A clutch comprising. a' drum provided with a shaft which extends beyond one end thereof, a friction member constructed to fit the outer periphery of said drum, a clamping member, and means for tighteningsaid clamping member on said friction member and thereby. forcing said.

friction member forcibly in contact with said drum, said friction member being free to slide relative to said drum and clamping member.

11. A clutch comprising a casing, a drum in said casing provided with a shaft which extends beyond one end there of, a friction member-constructed to fit the outer periphery of said drum, and a clamping member comprising a strip of metal formed in the shape of a helix, one end of which is operatively connected to said casing, said friction mom her being free to slide relative to s'aid drum and clamping member, and means for tightening said clamping member onsaid friction member and thereby forcing said friction member forcibly in contact with said drum.

12.. A clutch comprising a casing, a drum in said casing provided with a shaft which extends beyond one end thereof, said shaft havinga conduit which leads within said drum andsaid drum having a plurality of passages which communicate with the under side of a friction memher 'i friction member constructed, to fit the outer periphery of said drum, a clamping member one end of whichis operatively connected to said casing, said friction minber being free to slide relative to said drum and' clamping member, and means for tightening said clamping member on said friction member and thereby forcing said friction member forcibly in contact. with said drum. I

In testimony whereof, I, NICHOLAS M. POWELL have signed my name to this specification in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses, this 6th day of December 1906.,

NICHODAS M. POWELL.

Witnesses:

*Aiunnrs Bmovsnr,

N. 0.1 Minoan. 

